Our Lady of Africa Parish will conduct its first health and wellness fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The fair will include blood pressure screenings taken by medical students from Northwestern University and University of Illinois as well as information tables with resources on breast and skin cancer, skin care, nutrition, senior services (Medicare and senior health), allergic rhinitis/asthma, food allergies, immunizations, pediatric health and dental health.
Our Lady of Africa Parish, the combined parishes of St. Ambrose, St. Anselm, St. Elizabeth, Corpus Christi and Holy Angels churches, started a Medical Ministry with the primary purpose to encourage parishioners to lead healthy lifestyles through education presentations, workshops and screenings. Through mentoring, the ministry also hopes to encourage youth to pursue studies within health sciences.
The parish conducts CPR courses and blood pressure screenings several times a year. The ministry also has had lectures on asthma and allergies, heart disease, hypertension and nutrition. Physicians in the congregation gave the lectures with the primary goal to share information with the community.